I hope that the model set by USP will help set a better example for other universities in Latin America. To send students to school just to say there is a lot of students in higher ecducation sounds like something that needs to be addressed. At first the priority should be quality rather then quantity.

"The U.S. has been the most benevolent global leader in world history. No other power has shared values such as democracy, trade and freedom.Not the Roman Empire. Not the Persian Empire. No even the British Empire. Not even Ancient China, Greece and Egypt.

If Brazil rises, it won't replace the U.S. or even match it in its benelovence. Most likely, Brazilians will export their dysfunctionality like this:"

More recently you posted:

"Alas, another feel good article about Brazil. Wow, moving up 30%
or so from bottom heap this week to number blah blah..."

I suggest you some real literature by a Harvard Professor, in an effort to improve your harangue, at:

“At many Latin American public universities students pay nothing, staff are unsackable, and the curriculum is old-fashioned and politicised. Good teaching and research are not rewarded with extra funding or promotions; institutions do not lose money if their students drop out.”

But hey, these things above happen in almost all Brazilian state-run public universities — and MAINLY AT THE U.S.P.!

I work for a public university in Colombia (Antioquia University). Our goverments in Latin America are not really interested in investing in public education. Right now all public universities in Colombia are on strike because the goverment proposes to establish a new educational policy called NUEVA REFORMA A LA LEY 30 DE 1992. (New educational law for public universities) This measure privitises public universities and makes almost imposible for poor families to reach higher and better education. Chile now is in big trouble because of the same situation.

The most recommended comment, by Ivan João Junior, is a piece of advertising about a particular university. Regretful as such content must be, we must also realize that the 'alarming score' of recommendations - more than twiece as many as the second best recommended - can be built by the very same person, or acquaintances, who inserted it. That probably being the case, we are before an additional evidence that something is badly wrong about higher education at places.

I feel as if the way these institutions are being created in Latin America are questionable at least. Just because a school has a large number of students, walls, and teachers does not mean that it is up to the standards as the universities that are found in other regions of the world. Also, the amount of people dropping out is a very big problem. The countries of Latin America need to put money into the educational system and create universities where the degrees are legit. At this point the students in most of Latin American universities are better off saving their money and printing off a diploma from the web.

Latin America is no exception to the dramatic reforms that must take place with regards to education. America faces a narrowing of education access based on costs and acceptance while Latin America needs more institutions with greater expertise and deeper funding. Education reform however must be undertaken in a sustainable way that will ensure students' success and academic recognition by the world. While the United States may have some of the highest rated universities in the world, there is no reason Brazil, Chile, Argentina, and Colombia cannot follow suit. When schools form communities not just campuses and cities make universities corner stone institutions not second thoughts, students truly benefit from higher education. If one examines the role of universities in the US one sees that entire cultures and regions are formed around the bonds fostered on campus and beyond. Students offer towns or cities innovative thought with an eagerness to help and an exhilaration to be part of something bigger which intelligent localities will harness for economic and cultural growth.

It's good to hear about how the Universities in Latin America are progressing. I think the main problem that they face right now is keeping student from dropping out of College or from moving away after college. What is going to keep the students in their respective countries if there are opportunities ten times better somewhere else. Find a way for them to give back to their country post-graduating and the progress in Latin America will continue.

USP may be the best university in the region, but its successes are symptomatic of the larger disparity in wealth across the country; public education is so inadequate that the country's elite who receive their educations privately are the only ones who qualify to obtain admission to the free public unis....perpetuating the radical stratification of the country.
-Jennifer Irizarry

Obviously, it would be greatly beneficial for the region if their higher education system can improve. From what I’ve read, it seems like most universities in Latin America do not have qualified professors or students who aim at receiving an education that allows them to innovate and improve the world. As Latin American countries see economic growth, I think the people will begin to demand a better system which will lead to an overall higher standard of living.

Latin America is said to have an increasing influence in the global arena, especially Brazil. However, if its universities are not producing quality research, solid scholars, and qualified professors than its influence and innovation will surely remain stagnant. Increasing the number of students admitted, the number of campuses, or bettering the faculty-student ratio all means nothing (and in some cases makes universities worse off) if the methods of teaching and requirements for obtaining a degree (for students and professors) are not reformed. Unlike many of the posts on this article, I do not believe there is a LACK of innovative scholars, rather - the higher-educational system in Latin America cripples students to develop their ideas .

If Latin America wants to grow economically and compete with the world, higher education must be made a top priority. Brazil, being the powerhouse that it is becoming, needs to lead the charge in this movement. Much more spending on universities must take place, and the governments need to make a big effort in attracting experts to teach at their universities. Coming from a Latin American country myself, I can attest that the professors are very old-schooled, and need to step up their teaching and research methods. A big tip for South America is to look at American universities as an example, and set a goal to become like those, especially the Ivys. China is using the same technique to grow their economy and businesses, and it is working very well.

I just found out something very interesting about these rankings, im not sure exactly how they work but..
If you open up the top ten universities in latin america and go to the world rankings for that universities on its specific page the following data can be seen about their international rankings in different fields of study:

Seriously, does this make any sense? how come the UBA and UNAM seem to have better rankings in the fields than all of the rest other tan the USP and still they get ranked lower in the world and even in latin america? Also its seems they all do well in specific fields but bad overall?? Gets you thinking...
Also, to all those who walked about how bad education was in latin america, look at those international rankings in specific fields, they all seem to be within the top 200 (even top 100), except for UNICAMP. Its seems to me something weird happened to the world rankings which everyone looks at without going deeper into the info.

I believe that more schools in Latin America are capable of producing well educated students with a degree. All universities have one thing in mind which is transforming students into the work force for whatever job they want to do and i believe all Latin universities can do that. Maybe they need to change their evaluation. With more educated people in the Latin American society the more stable the countries will be.

Its hard to justify the bolstering of Latin American universities when the majority of the better universities are in Brazil and Dilma just initiated a program that aims to award 75,000 scholarships to attend the world's top universities.

I do not doubt the students' ability and drive to learn and to be successful. Latin America was thought for a long time to be a dying breed in the professional world. Few of the many elite minds came into prominence in the academic community. However, the times are changing. With Latin American economies taking large strides to their spots in the spotlight, their universities will follow. As their universities grow and become prestigious, their economies will get stronger. The relationship goes both ways. There is no doubt in my mind that schools throughout Latin America will continue to become some of the most competitive and highlighted schools in the world.

The idea that USP is considered the #1 university in all of Latin America is of great importance because it shows how Brazil is moving up in international importance in the today's world. They are becoming world powers quickly and efficiently. They might still have a long way to go but the will time will come when they become a world leader. It all starts with a good higher education so that the following generations can continue to advance in the world stage.

I think its great that USP ranks in the top 200 universities in the world, what a great accomplishment that is. Unfortunately, that's the only one from the region. Education is extremely important because the students of today are the leaders of tomorrow. These public schools that are lacking in quality teaching need to find a way to improve the education to keep the students interested and motivated to get a degree and not drop out.

It is great to see reforms being implemented in South America. For years there education system in South America has been way less than satisfactory and it still has a long way to go. Brazil is a great example for the other countries to follow and begin to improve their programs. Brazil is becoming a more powerful entity within the world and I wouldn't be surprised if its economy because one of the top 10 economies within the next 100 years.

These countries with large amounts of drop out college students are going to have a very difficult time in the future. If colleges aren't willing to buck up and provide a quality education that can be affordable to those who are most eager and able to learn, then there will be problems. Also, there is something to be said about these drop outs also taking part of the blame. Because the drop out numbers are high, the universities are at fault, but the drop out rates could possibly mean the education is not worth the time and money, and these students may possibly be able to find decent jobs without the educations these faulty universities have to offer.